Container filling machine



Dea, 22, 1953 W. DE BACK CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Filed March 2'?, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec., 22, 1953 Filed March 27, 1950 IBI FIEILEI' W. DE BACK CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MNM Snventor WILL/AM d0 BACI( Gttorneg Dec., 22, 1953 w. DE BACK 2,663,480

`. CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WILL/AN d0 BACK Cttorneg Patented Dec. 22, 1953 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE William de Back, San Jose, Calif., assigner to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application March 27, 1950, Serial No. 152,063

18 Claims. i

The present invention relates to a container iilling machine, and more particularly to a mechanism for supplying proper quantities of liqe uids, such as brine or syrup, to containers, either empty or partly iilled with food products.

An object of the invention is to provide improved container filling apparatus.

Another object is to supply proper quantities of either hot or coldliquid to containers of food products.

Another object is to provide mechanism for lling containers to a predetermined level with liquid while subjecting the interior of the container to controlled vacuum.

Another object is to provide a vacuum ller valve which is simple to fabricate, assemble and disassemble, and is easily cleaned by ilushing. f

Another object is to provide a ller valve which is capable of easy and accurate adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ller valve which will accurately fill containers presented thereto without objectionable afterdrip.

A further object is to provide container filling mechanism which is capable of easy interchange from a balanced vacuum system for supplying cold liquids to an unbalanced vacuum and atmospheric pressure system for supplying hot liquids to containers of food products.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a vacuum can lling machine embodying the invention, parts thereof being broken away, only one filling valve and its associated parts being shown installed thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical radial section through the ller valve and container lift mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to the upper portion of Fig. 2, but showing a modified form of ller valve.

Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged sectional view taken along the line I-- of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a conical valve housing mounted in a tank cover compartment, portions being broken away.

Fig. 8 is a similarly enlarged perspective view of a conical valve core adapted to seat inthe housing shown in Fig. 7, portions being broken away.

Figs. 9, l0 and l1 are enlarged sections taken along correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 1.

Fig l2 is a diagrammatic View of a lift cam embodied in the machine illustrated in Fig. 1-.

The container lling mechanism of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 as embodied in a generally conventional type of rotary turret can filling or syruping machine comprising a sta tionary base A, with a rotatable turret B journaled on the base to rotate about a vertical axis. This general type-of machine is well known t0 those familiar with the art, and is disclosed, for example, in Thompson Patent 1,355,015, dated October 5, 1920.

The base A (Fig. 1) comprises a standard III having a pan II secured transversely thereon by screws I2. A usual concentrically curved can elevating camk track I3 is ksecured to the upper side of the pan I I by screws I4. The cam track I3 (Figs. l and 12) has a usual vacuumizing'portion IB, filling portion 26 and venting portion 21'. A vertical turret bearing support sleeve I5 is formed integrally with the pan, and has bearing bushings I'I inserted therein. A shaft I8 is journaled to rotate freely in the bushings I'I. f

A rotary can lift support table IS is secured on the upper end of the shaft I 8. A turret drive ring gear 2!) is secured to the under side of the can lift table by screws 2I, and is driven by a usual motor driven pinion, not shown. A plurality of can lift assemblies 22 shown sectionally in Fig. 2 are mounted in openings in the can lift table I9 in a usual manner and are provided with cam follower rollers 23 on their lower ends to ride on the cam track I3.

A cylindrical tank support member 24 is mounted ooncentrically on the can lift support table I9 by screws 25. The upper end of this tank support member is threaded externally at 28 and has normally free threaded engagement with an internally threaded skirt 29 having a liquid supply tank 30 and filler valves 3| mounted thereon. The cylindrical tank support member 24 is slitted vertically at 32 and has a connecting hori zontal slot 33 therein. A tapered plug 34 is screwed into a correspondingly threaded hole in the two complementary halves of a boss 35 welded to the tank support 24 on opposite sides ofthe vertical slit 32 therein. By screwing in the tapered plug Bil the upper portion of the cylindrical support 24 can be expanded to grip the internally threaded skirt 29 and thereby secure the tank assembly in rotatively adjusted position on its support.

An annular tank and ller valve mounting ring 38 is secured concentrically on the upper end of the skirt member 2S by screws 39, and a conical tank bottom @il is secured across the central opening of the support ring 38 by silver soldering. The tank 3@ comprises a cylindrical side wall member il with its ends secured in grooves in.

lower and upper rims i2 and d, respectively. The lower tank rim i2 is secured by screwsV 12.8, to. the annular tank and filler valve mounting ring 38. screwed into a correspondingly threaded vent hole 48 through the side wall of the tank, and is removed as shown in Fig. l for unbalanced operation oi' the filling mechanism in a manner to be described later herein. From this point on the mechanism embodies several novel features which will be described in detail.

A compartmented tank cover 50 comprises an annular rim 5| with a resilient gasket 52 mounted on its lower face. The gasket 52 is adapted to have sealing engagement with the upper rim 43 of the liquid supply tank 30. The cover 5S has a dished bottom 53 and domed top 54 tted into the rim 5I and secured thereto by silver soldering.

A conical vacuum and drain valve housing 55 tted into central openings in the top and bottom walls oi the cover Ell, and is soldered thereto to be disposed co-axially or" the cover compartment. A toothed cover positioning plate 58, secured to A tapered sealing plug 4l is adapted to bev the periphery of the cover rim 5l, has intertting a y relation with a notched plate secured to the periphery of the upper tank rim 43 to facilitate mounting the cover in proper position on the tank, and to prevent relative rotative movement therebetween during operation of the mechanism.

ing cover plate G2 secured to the valve housing by screws 63. v

The lower end of a vacuum pipe 54 (Figs. l and 8) is secured in the enlarged upper portion of an axial hole 6l through the Vvalve core 5l?. The upper end of the vacuum pipe M is soldered to a collar 58 which encircles a liquid supply pipe @E and is also soldered thereto. The upper end of the'liquid supply pipe is adapted to be connected to a usual source of liquid, while its lower end exi; tends downwardly through the axial hole $1 in the valve core si?, and is welded to the core. The lower end of the liquid supply pipe 69 extends downward into the tank El! and has a usual float valve 'l' mounted on its lower end to maintain the liquid in the tank at a constant level during operation of the mechanism.

The vacuum pipe E4 is spaced outwardly `from the liquid supply pipe 59, and the space between the two pipes communicates at its lower end with the space between the wall of the enlarged upper portion of the axial core hole if? and the liquid supply pipe 63. This space in turn communicates with a plurality of outwardly extending passages il in the valve core 6U (Figs. 8 and 9) The outer ends of these passages H open into a pair of circumferential grooves 'i2 and T3 extending part way around the valve core to maint in constant communication between the passages l! and a plurality of ports 'M in the valve housing. A plurality of openings l5 through the vacuum pipe 54 near its upper end communicate with a chambered T-tting 'il which surrounds the vacuum pipe and is sealed thereto. These latter openings 'l5 communicate with a vacuum supply line 'i8 which is connected in a usual manner to a suitable source oi vacuum, such as a vacuum pump, not

shown. v

A cover support. arm 'I9 is secured to a sleeve 853 which surrounds the vacuum supply pipe 6d. The cover support arm 'i9 is mounted on a standard or other suitable support. not shown, so that the entire cover assembly 5B can be raised by elevating this support arm, or moved downwardly to the position shown in Fig. l to compress the cover gasket 52 and` seal the cover assembly to the tank. A clamp ccliar 2i is clamped around the vacuum pipe 61S just above the sleeve 8S, and a torque pin 82 is inserted through registering holes in the clamp collar Si and the support arm 19 to secure the vacuum pipe 55 and its associated parts against rotation.

A plurality of upper drain ports 83 are provided in the conical valve housing 55 (Figs. 1, 7 and 10) just above the bottom plate 53 of the tank cover compartment to drain off any liquid which may be drawn into the cover compartment during operation of the mechanism. These ports register, at predetermined stages of rotation of the valve housing 55 around the stationary core 53, with pocket recesses 84 formed in the valve core.. These pocket recesses also register, at other stages or rotation ci the valve housing 55 intermediately of their positions of registry with the upper drain ports 83, with lower drain ports 35' (Figs. '7 and ll) through the housing 55 which open below the cover compartment bottom plate 53 into the liquid in the supply tank 3D'. The two sets of drain ports 83 and S5 in the valve housing are oiTset angularly from each otherso that both sets there'- of never are in register with the core pocket recesses 84 at the same time. This prevents the 'by-passing of air through these ports and consee quent loss of vacuum in the cover compartment during unbalanced operation of the mechanism in a manner to be described later herein.

A plurality of the ller valves 3S! corresponding to the number of can lifts 22 are secured on seats machined on the periphery of the annular iiller valve and tank support ring 33. Twenty is a common number of filler valves to provide on av machine. These iillervalves are adapted to be aligned vertically above the can lifts .so that a lower outlet of each of the filler valves will register with the mouth of a container SS positioned in a usual manner on a lift 22. A liquid passage 89 (Figs. l, 2 and 3) communicates from the interior of the liquid supply tank 301:0 a downwardly opening liquid passage SG (Figs. l and 2,) through the body portion di of each of the iilier` valves. A downwardly facing grooved seat'52 is provided. around the outlet of each of the liquid passages 90.

A vacuum passage 93 establishes communication between a conical valve recess |20 in the upper end of each nller valve Abody and the lower end of a vertical standpipe Sli mounted in a recess in the support ring 38. Only one valve and one standpipe are shown in the mechanism iiiustrated in l, although a similar standpipe is provided for each of the valves on the machine.

A resilient sleeve 95 is adapted to be ntted onto the upper end of each of the standpipes and is pressed thereby into sealed relation with the under side of the bottom plate 53 of the ,cover compartment to surround a hole 91 therein. When the resilient sleeves 35 are thus positioned they provide individual sealed communication between the vacuumized interior of the cover compartment and each of the vacuum standpipes 94, and also seal the standpipes from the interior of the liquid supply tank. When these sleeves 95 are removed, the cover compartment will be in open communication with the interior of the liquid supply tank through the holes 91 in the bottom plate of the cover assembly, and the vacuum standpipes also will be in open communication with the interior of the liquid supply tank above the liquid level therein.

An adjustably mounted fixed valve (Fig. 2.) has an externally threaded stem portion |0| thereof screwed into axially adjusted position in an internally threaded vertical tubular valve support portion |02 which, in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. l and 2, is formed integrally with the valve body 9| and projects concentrically downward through the bottom outlet of the liquid passage 90. The iixed valve |00 has an enlarged head portion |03 on its lower end with an upwardly facing seat |04 machined on the upper marginal portion thereof.

A continuous seal or conduit |05 is provided between each ller valve 3| and the upwardly facing valve seat |04. This seal comprises a resilient sleeve |08 mounted with its upper edge seated in the downwardly facing annular groove 92 surrounding the outlet of the liquid passage 30, and its lower edge seated in an annular groove in the upper side of the rim |09 of an annular guide member |0. The guide member has a central hub portion mounted to slide axially on the tubular valve stem support |02. A plurality of liquid passage openings ||2 are provided in the portion of the guide member ||0 which connects the rim |09 and the hub thereof.

A resilient annular sealing gasket I|3 is mounted in an annular groove formed in the under side of the rim |03 of the guide member H0. 'Ihe gasket ||3 is adapted to seat on the upwardly facing valve seat |04 on the valve head |03, and is beveled at ||4 radially beyond the valve head |03 to have sealing, centering engagement with the mouth of a container 88 (Figs. 1 and 2) such as a can, or glass container, when elevated by the container lift 22 associated with the ller valve. The resiliency of the seal |05 normally urges the gasket ||3 downwardly into sealing engagement with the upwardly facing valve seat |34 on the xed valve head |33, but is adapted to be compressed to allow elevation of the gasket from its seat when the lift roller 23 (Fig. 1) rides onto the highest portion of the lift cam track |3 (Figs. 1 and l2).

A passage ||5 is provided axially through the fixed valve member |00 and is adapted to com municate with an axial hole |I8 in a valve core ||9 which is seated in a correspondingly shaped valve recess in the upper end of the iiller valve body 9|. A radial passage |2| opens into the axial passage H8 in the valve core ||9 and this radial valve core passage is adapted to communi-I cate through the vacuum passage 93 with the lower end of the standpipe 34 in one rotatively adjusted position of the valve core.

A vent port 522 is provided in the valve body 9| diametrically opposite the vacuum passage 93 into the standpipe, and an alternate radial Vent passage |23 (Fig. 2) also is provided in the valve body 9| to register with the radial core passage 2| after the core has been turned through an angle of degrees from a position `of, register with the passage 93. This-alternate 90 degree vent passage |23 is adapted to be closed by a tapered, threaded sealing plug, not show n, when the mechanism is operated under unbalanced pressure conditions, and to remain open when operating under balanced pressure conditions, as will be explained later herein. f

A usual vacuum and vent valve actuating Vstar wheel |24 is keyed to anl axially upwardly ex' tending shaft portion of the valve core H9 and is adapted to turn the valve core through successive rotative movements of 90 degrees each upon Contact with each of a succession of operating pins |25 (Fig. 1), mounted in a usual manner on a curved channel support track |21 which partially surrounds the machine.

A modified form of iiller valve |30 is shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. In this embodiment of the invention a valve body i3! is secured on the peripheral edge of the tank and filler valve support ring 38 in the same manner as that described for the filler valve 3| in Figs. l and 2. In the modiiied form of lller valve a hole |32 extends vertically through the ller valve body E31, with an annular flange 33 extending inwardly around the upper end of the hole |32. A key seat notch |34 is provided in the flange |33 to receive a key |45 for positioning a valve insert member |35 in the hole |32 in a manner to be described later herein.

The insert member |35'has a cylindrical central portion |31 which is adaptedto be inserted upwardly into the hole |32 to the position shown in Fig. 3. The central insert portion |31 is sealed to the wall surrounding the hole |32 by a hydraulic sealing ring |38 mounted in a'circurnferential groove around the lower end of the central insert portion. The insert member |35 also has an internally threaded tubular downwardly extending fixed valve support portion |39, and an'upwardly extending neck portion |40 o f reduced diameter. The neck portion |43 is adapt-k ed tovbe inserted through theopening in the flange |33 to project above the upper end of the valve body. A sealing gasket |4| is provided between the lower-side of the annular liange |33 and the insert |35. The upwardly extending neck portion |43 of the insert is externally threaded to threadedly receive a securing nut |42 having spanner wrench receiving recesses in the, periphery thereof.

A pair of key seating notches |43 and .|44 are provided in the lower end of the neck portion |40 and are offset angularly from each other by an angle of 90 degrees. The nut |42 secures the insert |35 in the valve body |3| in one of two angularly adjusted positions., as determined by theposition of a key |45' (Figs. 3 and 5) which is adapted tobe inserted in the key receiving notch |34 in the valve body flange |33, and also in one or the other of the two key receiving notchesv |43 and |44 in the neck |40.

A ventport |48 (Fig. 5) is provided through the neck portion |40 of the insert |35 above the Spanner nut |42 thereon, and a pair of alternately effective vacuum passages |50 and |5| (Fig. 5) are provided through the central portion |31 of the insert member |35. These vacuum passages |50 and |5| open attheir radially inward ends into a tapered valve core seat |52 in the upper end of the insert |35. Depending upon the keyed angular position of the insert 35 in the valve body I 3|, one or the other of these passages |50 or |.5| is adapted to register with a vacuumV passage |53 through the valve body, which turn registers with the vacuum passage 93 in the mounting ring 38.

A tapered valve core |54 is adapted to seat on thetapered core seat |52. The core |54 has an axial passage |55 which extends upwardly from its lower end and communicates with a pair of radial passages |51 and |58, both with their axes in the same radial plane. The upper radial core passage |58 is adapted to register with the vent port |48 in predetermined rotatively adjusted positions of the valve core |54, and the lower radial core passage |'1 is adapted to register successvely with the vacuum passages |50 and |5| in the insert upon predetermined rotative movements of the core.

With the valve insert |35 rotatively adjusted to the position shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, wherein the key is inserted in aligned notches |35 and |43, when the valve core |54 is in the vacuumizing position, illustrated in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, the lower radially extending valve core passage |51 will be in register with the vacuum port in the insert |35 and thence with the registering vacuum passage |53 through the valve body. In e port |48 in the neck |40 of the insert |35. Two i:

further 90 degree rotative movements of the valve core |54 will return the valve core to its starting position with both radial core passages |51 and |58 closed.

By removing the Spanner nut |42, withdrawing the insert |35 from the valve body |3|, turning it 90 degrees in a counterclockwise direction, and re-inserting it with the key in the notches |34 and |44, it will be obvious that the vacuum passage |50 in the insert |35, which, in the position of the key illustrated in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 was L in register with the vacuum passage |53 through the valve body I3 I, will be 90 degrees out of register with the vacuum passage |53, and will be sealed off by the wall of the hole |32. However,

the alternate vacuum passage |5| in the insert 35, will, in the newly adjusted position of the insert, be in register with the body vacuum pas-4 sage |53.

Also, in the newly adjusted position of the insert |35 the vent port |48 in the neck |40 will be angularly oiset from the insert vacuum port |5I by an angle of 180 degrees.

An axially adjustable xed valve |60 (Figs. 3 and 4) has an externally threaded tubular stem portion |5| which is adapted to be screwed into the internally threaded tubular valve support portion |39 and is held in axially adjusted position therein by an externally threaded tubular locking member |52. A socketed recess |63, which may be of hexagonal cross sectional shape is provided in the upper end of the bore of the locking member |52 to receive an ordinary stud wrench, not shown. A hydraulic sealing ring |54 is mountedin a circumferential groove around the upper -portion |55 having an upwardly facing seat |51 machined on its upper marginal portion. A resilient sealing gasket |68,.adapted to seat on the'upwardly facing Yvalve seat |61, is mounted in an annular groove inthe-lower end of a gasket support sleeve |68 whichY has a relatively thick lower portion |10 adapted to iit slidably Within the lower end of a guide member |1| forming part of a resilient sealing means |12. The upper portion of the sleeve |69 is threaded externally with threads of the same pitch and hand as those on the fixed valve stem |0|. The sleeve |69 is'adapted to be screwed into axially adjusted position in a correspondingly internally threaded portion of the guide member |1|.

A pair of lugs |13. extend inwardly from each side of the inner wall of the sleeve |55-, and each pair of these lugs is adapted to receive freely between them one of a pair of vanes |14 extending radially from the iixed valve |50 above the head |55 thereof. The lugs |13 and vanes |14l secure the valve |50 and sleeve |55 together for cornmon rotative movement. Y

The guide member 11| has a beveled, resilient container sealing gasket |15 seated in a groove around the under side of a rim portion |15 thereof, and also has a resilient sealing sleeve |18 mounted in a groove around the upper surface of the rim |15. The upper end of the resilient sealing sleeve |18 seats in an annular groove |15 surrounding the lower end of the hole |32 in the iiller valve body |3| in the same manner as that described previously herein for the resilient sleeve 55 of the ller valve structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The guide member I1 has a hub portion mounted for slidable movement on the tubular lower portion |39 of the insert |35. Ak plurality of liquid passage holes |8| are provided through the portion of the guide member connecting the hub portion |50 to the rim portion |15'thereof.

Operation The mechanism shown in Fig. l is adapted to be operated either as a balanced ory unbalanced system. For'exa'mple, when operating asa balanced system vacuum is applied equally to the standpipes 55r and tothe liquid inthe tank 35 so that the flow of liquid into a container will be entirely by gravity flow. This arrangement is desirable when filling containers with cool or cold liquids.

When operating as an unbalanced system, vacuum is applied to the interiorof the container being lled'both before and during the introduction of liquids into the container but, 'during the actual filling operation, the vacuum passage to the source of vacuum is closed, and only the residual vacuum in the container and filling valve passages is employed. 1The liquid in the tank is exposed to atmospheric pressure in the unbalanced system. The latter system is preferable where a hot liquid fill is to be made.

Assuming, rst, that the mechanism is to be used as an unbalanced system to supply hot brine solution to cans previously partly iilled with spinach, the compartmented tank cover 55. is raised by means of the support arm 19 and the resilient sealing sleeves 55 are fitted onto the upper ends of the standpipesv S5. Upon again lowering the cover assembly into sealing relaf tion with the tank 35 the upper ends of the resilient sleeves 55 will be pressed into sealing en- Vagement with the under side or" the lower cover1 plate 53 around the holes 51 therein.

The vent plug 41 in the side of the tank is removed to admit air under atmospheric pressure to the interior of the tank 35, above the float-controlled liquid level therein. Also the plug is inserted in the 90 degree threaded vent hole |23 in the valve body 9|; Vacuum is applied to the vacuum pipe 64 and is communicated through the passages 'II and the ports It to the interior of the cover compartment.

The liquid in the tank 30 tends to ow by gravity through the liquid passage 89, the down- Wardly opening passage 90 through the valve body, through the holes I I2 in the guide member III), and is normally sealed against passage beyond the resilient sealing gasket II3 by the contact therewith of the upwardly facing valve seat |04.

The mechanism is then actuated to rotate 'the turret B in a clockwise direction. The terms clockwise and counterclockwise as used herein are intended to mean when viewed from above unless otherwise stated. The cans or containers 88 are fed into the machine in a usual manner at a point in the rotative cycle of the turret B where the can lift is in its lowermost position and the valve core |I9 in its normal initial or off position. In this initial position of the valve core IIS the radial passage I2I therein is located 90 degrees in a clockwise direction from a position of register with the vacuum passage 93, 180 degrees in the same direction from a position of register with the plug-sealed vent port |23, and 270 degrees in the same direc-i tion from a position of register with the open vent port |22.

As the lift roller 23 passes onto the intermediate vacuumizing portion I5 of the cam track I3, the mouth of the container 88 mounted on the lift is raised into sealing engagement with f the beveled lower portion IIll of the sealing gasket II3. A spring |82 (Fig. 2) of the can lift assembly is placed under compression by this movement, but the spring |82 does not have suicient force to elevate the sealing gasket II3 from the upwardly facing valve seat |04.

At this stage in the rotative cycle of the turret B the star wheel |24 is engaged by a first linger |25 to rotatively move the valve core I I9 through an angle of 90 degrees in a counterclockwise direction. This bringsthe radial valve core passage I 2| (Figs. 1 and 2) into'registry with the vacuumized passage 93 and thence through the standpipe 94 with the vacuumized compartment of the tank cover 50. This withdraws the air from the container and places it under vacuum.

The star wheel |24 then engages a second finger |25 to rotate the core I I9 through another angle of 90 degrees, which closes ofithe vacuum passage 93 and brings the radial valve core passage I2| into registry with the 90 degree offset port |23 through the valve body 9|. This latter port, however, is sealed with a tapered plug as mentioned previously herein, so that the interior of the container and the passages communicating therewith remain vacuumized.

The lift roller 23 then passes onto the highest or liquid filling portion 25 of the cam track I3 which causes the lift spring |82 (Fig. 2) to bottom, and elevates the sealing gasket II3 from the upwardly facing seat |04 of the fixed valve against the resilient pressure of the sealing means to admit liquid into the vacuumized container. The liquid flows into the vacuumized container very rapidly since, in addition to its gravity head, the liquid in the tank 39 is exposed to atmospheric pressure. The vacuumized condition of the container tends to withdraw air which otherwise might remain in the can or its contents, *and insures a propervfill.

The lift roller 23 then rides onto the next succeeding or venting portion 2? of the cam track I3, which permits the gasket II3 tg close on the upwardly facing valve seat ist, but still retains the mouth of the container 88 in sealed relation with the beveled face IILl of the gasket. At this stage in the rotative cycle of the turret B, the star wheel |243 is again actuated to rotate the tapered valve core I I9 through a further angle ci 90 degrees in a counterclockwise direction which brings the radial core passage I2I into register with the open vent port |22. The admission of air under atmospheric pressure through the vent port forces any liquid which may remain in the core and associated passages downwardly into the container 39, and thereby prevents objection.. able after-drip. The cam roller 23 next passes downwardly off the cam track, the filled container is removed from the left 22 in the usual manner, and the star wheel |252- again is engaged to rotate the core IIS through a final angle of 90 degrees in a, counterclockwise direction to'return it to its starting, sealed position.

Any liquid which may be drawn into the cover compartment by the vacuum therein drains downwardly through the upper drain ports 83 as they move into register with the pocketed recesses 86 in the valve core 60 and thence, upon further rotation of the housing' 55, out of the lower drain ports and back into the liquid in the tank 33.

For operation of the mechanism as a balanced system, the cover assembly 5U is elevated by means of the cover support arm 19, the resilient sleeves 95 are removed, and the cover 59 again is lowered to sealed position on the tank. The tapered plug AIthen is screwed into the vent hole 4S in the tank side wall 4I, and vacuum is applied to the tank, and filling liquid is supplied thereto in the usual manner.

The 90 degree vent hole is left open in the balanced operation of the system which follows generally the procedure outlined previously herein for the unbalanced system. In the balanced system however, the lingers I 25 for operating the star wheel |24 are positioned so that the rst 90 degree rotative movement of the core occurs closely following the sealing of the mouth of the container against the beveled seat IIII on the sealing washer I I3, and the second rotative movement of the core occurs after the lift roller 23 has passed onto the vent portion '2l thereof. rIhe containers are fed in the usual manner onto the can lift 22 and are elevated to bring the mouth of the container into sealing engagement with the beleved seat I I4 of the washer II3 when the cam roller 23 rides up onto the vacuumizing portion I6 of the cam track I3.

The rst 90 degree rotative movement of the core IIS by means of the star wheel |24 communicates the interior of the container B8 through the hollow stem of the Xed valve |08, core passages IIS and |2I, the vacuum passage 93 in the mounting ring 33, and the standpipe 94 with the vacuumized interior of the tank. The core remains in this position while the lift roller 23 rides onto the highest or lling portion 23 of the cam track, which raises the sealing ring II3 and 9B into the container 88 and into the standpipe to the same level as that of the liquid in the tank. After the lift roller 23 passes down onto the vent portion 2 of the cam track the valve core H9 is rotated through a second turn of 90 degrees thereby registering the radial core passage |2| with the 90 degree vent opening |23 from which the plug has been removed. This admits air under atmospheric pressure to clear the Core and xed valve stem passages of liquid, thereby preventing after-drip. The roller 23 then passes down 01T the cam track, lowering the container clear of the valve after which the container is removed from the machine in a usual manner.

In accordance with common practice the fixed valve head H33 projects into the container to displace a volume of liquid therein sufcient to leave a desired head space in the container when it is lowered away from the valve and the liquid .has been released from the vent passages by the venting.

The modified form of valve shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, provides for simple and accurate adjustment of the valve which adds greatly t its utility, particularly when the valve is to be used interchangeably for supplying diierent types of liquid and is intended for use for 'both balanced and unbalanced operation. Since the general operation of the valve shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 is substantially similar to that of the valve shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be unnecessary to repeat the description of the general cycle of operation of the apparatus with the former.

The adjustment of the head space in the form of valve shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 is accomplished as follows: The Valve core |54 is rst lifted out of its seat and a usual form of 4plug wrench,

not shown, is inserted in the hexagonal recess |63 in the tubular locking member |62 to free it from locking engagement with the end of the fixed valve stem I6 l. As mentioned previously herein, the pitch and hand of the threads on the sleeve |69 and on the iixed valve `stem 6| are the saine. Since these parts are interlocked for simultaneous Vrotative movement by the lugs |13 and interposed vanes |15, upon releasing the tubular locking member |62 from engagement with the end of the xed valve stem ISI, the valve and its rotatively interconnected sleeve |69 may be screwed up or down to raise or lower the xed valve head and its sealing washer |88 carried on the sleeve IES relatively to the container sealingwasher mounted on the guidemember Il If it should be desired to adjust the position of the xed valve |56 without changing the head space, the guide member Ill and Valve head |65 can be turned together as a unit. The upper end of the resilient sleeve |18 would move 'slidably in its annular seat to permit such adjustment.

In addition to the vfeatures of the valve shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 which thus facilitate adjustment of the head space and seating pressures exerted by the resilient seal |172, the modied form of valve core |54 and its associated insert |35 avoid the necessity of having an alternate degree Vent port |23 and sealing plug therefor. With the insert |35 keyed in the position for balanced operation of the system shown in Figs. i3 and 5, the vent 'port '48 Ain the neck |40 will `be located 90 degrees in a counterclockwise rotative direction from the vacuumizing position of the radial core passage |58. With the insert |35 keyed in its alternate position, namely 90 degrees in a counterclockwise direction from its position shownin Figs. 3, 5, and 6, the yvent 'port |48 will lf2 be .located .180 degrees from the vacuumizing position .of the core passage "|53 for unbalanced operation of the system.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of the present invention it will be understood, however, that various changes and modications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what I claim vas new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A container lling machine comprising a rotary vliquid supply tank, a compartmented cover adapted to seal .the interior of said tank from the atmosphere, .a valve housing mounted on said cover, a valve mounted in said valve housing, to drain liquid .from the cover compartment into the tank, means for openly connecting the cover compartment to a source of vacuum, a ller valve body mounted on said tank to rotate therewith, a liquidv passage extending downwardly from said tank through said valve body and .having a downwardly opening outlet, sealing means .surrounding the outlet from said liquid passage, means for moving a container to position its mouth in sealed relation with said sealing means, valve .means mounted to control the flow of liquid through vsaid liquid passage, vacuum communicating means normally communicatingsaid valve body with said vacuumized cover compartment, valve .means mounted alternately to communicate a container mounted with its .mouth .sealed to said sealing member with said vacuum communicating means and with the atmosphere., said Vacuum communicating means having Aa, removable portion adapted to communicate the interior of the cover compartment with the liquid supply tank, and said tank having a removable portion adapted to communicate .the interior yof the tank with the atmosphere.

2. A container filling -machine comprising a liquid supply tank, a sealed compartmented cover adapted to seal the interior of said tank from the atmosphere, means for connecting the cover compartment to a source of vacuum, a ller valve body mounted on said tank, a liquid passage extending downwardly from said tank through said valve body, Ameans .for sealing the mouth of a container around the Aoutlet end of said liquid passage, means for controlling .a flow of liquid from the tank into a container having its mouth so sealed, -valve rcontrolled means mounted alternately to communicate a container mounted with Aits vmouth so sealed with said cover compartment and with the atmosphere, and a removable sleeve adapted to be mounted to .seal 01T communication Vbetween the cover compartment and the tank .and to be removed to communicate the interior of the cover compartment with the interior of the tank.

3. A container filling .machine comprising a liquid .supply tank, a :compartmented cover mounted .on said tank and .sealed thereto, said tank being .normally .in open .communication with said cover compartment, .means for connecting the cover compartment to a source of vacuum, a filler valve vvbody mounted adjacent said tank, a liquid vpassage extending downwardly .from said tank 'through said valve body, means for .sealing the mouth of a container to 4the valve body around the outlet end of Vsaid liquid passage, means for controlling a Tlow 'of liquid from vthe 'tank vinto a container having its 'mouth so sealed, a reuum, a ller valve body mounted below the liquid v level in said tank, a liquid passage communicating from the liquid in said tank through said valve body, valve means mounted to control the .iiow of liquid through said valve body, means for relevating a container toward said iiller valve,

means for sealing the mouth of a container so elevated to said ller valve body, a vacuum passage communicating from the interior of a container so sealed to said vacuum compartment, a valve mounted to control fluid flow in the vacuum passage, means for opening the vacuum passage control valve with a container sealed to said iiller valve body, means for closing the vacuum control valve at a predetermined height above the container mouth, means for opening the liquid control valve to admit liquid to the :i1

container and to the vacuum passage below said vacuum control valve, means for closing the liquid'control valve, means i'or venting the vacuum passage to the atmosphere to release liquid from the vacuum passage below the valve level therein for iiow back into the container, and means for lowering the container away from the filler valve body.

5. In a container filling machine for selective use as a balanced and unbalanced lling system,

a liquid supply tank, means for sealing the interior of the tank from the atmosphere, means for maintaining liquid at a predetermined level in said tank, a vacuum compartment communicating with said tank above the liquid level therein, means for connecting the vacuum compartment to a source of vacuum, a iiller valve body mounted below the liquid level in said tank, a liquid passage establishing communication from the liquid in said tank through said valve body, means mounted to control the flow of liquid through said valve body, means for sealing the mouth of a container to said ller valve body, a vacuum passage communicating from the interior of a container so sealed to the interior of said tank above the liquid level therein, means for sealing said vacuum passage from said tank and communicating it directly to the interior of said vacuum compartment, and means for venting said tank.

6. In a container lling machine for selective use as a balanced and unbalanced iilling system, a liquid supply tank, means for selectively venting said tank and for sealing the interior of the tank from the atmosphere, means for maintaining liquid at a predetermined level in said tank, a vacuum compartment, means for connecting the vacuum compartment to a source of vacuum,

.. a filler valve body mounted below the liquid level in said tank, a liquid passage communicating from the liquid in said tank through said valve body, means mounted to control the flow of liquid through said valve body, means for sealing the mouth of a container to said filler valve body around the outlet of said liquid passage, a vac,. uum passage communicating from the interior of a container so sealed through the interior ofv said tank and to the interior of said vacuum compartment, and removable sealing means for communicating ,the interior of said passage with thef interior of said tank above the liquid levelthereim 7. In a container iilling machine a vented li'quid sup-ply tank, a sealed cover compartment? adapted to be mounted over said liquid supply tank, a vacuum passage connected from a sourcei of vacuum into said cover compartment to vacuumize Asaid compartment, sealed drain means mounted to return liquid from the vacuumized cover compartment into the liquid supply'tank, a plurality of standpipes mounted in said'tank and terminating short of said cover beneath a plurality of correspondingly arranged openings in said cover compartment, a resilient sleeve mounted on each standpipe to be pressed into sealing, encircling engagement with the cover around one of said cover openings to provide individual sealed communication between the .standpipes and the interior of the cover compartment, and iiller valve means mounted to communicate the standpipes and the liquid in said tank to containers to be filled. f

8. In a container lling machine a liquid supply tank having a vent opening therein, means for sealing said vent opening, a sealed cover Acom'- partment adapted to be mounted in sealing relation to said liquid supply tank, means for rotating said tank and said cover as a unit, a valve member having a seat thereon mounted vco'- axially in said cover compartment, astationary Vvalve member mounted on saidl seat, a vacuum passage connected through said valve member and seat into said cover compartment, vsealed pocketed drain means in said valve to drain liquid from the cover compartment into the tank, a plurality lof standpipes mounted in said tank and terminating short of said cover beneath a plurality of correspondingly arranged openings in said cover compartment, a removable resilient sleeve adapted to be mounted on each standpipe to be pressed into sealing, encircling engagement with the cover around its corresponding cover .opening to provide sealed communication between the standpipes and the interior of the cover compartment, the sleeves being adapted to Vbe removed when the tank vent is sealed for level therein, means for selectively sealing off communication between the vacuum compartment and the tank, a iiller valve connected to said tank for controlled gravity discharge of liquid from said tank, means for sealing the mouth of a container to said iiller valve to rei mined level in said tank, a vacuum compartment communicating with said tank above the liquid level therein, a filler valve connected to said tank for controlled gravity discharge of liquid from said tank, means for sealing the mouth of a container to said ller valve to receive liquid discharged therethrough, said tank and said vaccum compartment openly communicating with each other through a rst passage, said tank and the interior of a container sealed to said ller valve openly communicating with each other through a second passage, and means for selectively sealing said passages into a continuous passage opening from'the interior of a container sealed to said ller valve into said vacuum compartment and sealed from said tank.

1l. In a container filling machine, a filler valve comprising a body portion having an opening therein adapted to communicate witha tank of liquid, a hollow valve stem rigidly supported in said body portion to extend downwardly through said liquid opening, a valve head carried by said stem, an upwardly facing valve seat on said valve head, a seat formed to surround said liquid opening, resiliently compressible conduit means disposed in compression between said upwardly facing valve seat and the seat surrounding said liquid opening, a portion of said conduit means being disposed beyond the valve seat, a valve seat formed in said body portion and having passages opening therefrom respectively to a source of vacuum and, to the atmosphere, a movable valve member seated on said latter valve seat and having an opening therein communicating with the interior of said hollow valve stem, means for rotatively moving said latter valve alternately to connect said hollow valve stem to said vacuum source and .to the atmosphere, and means for moving the mouth of a container into sealed engagement with the portion of said resilient conduit means beyond the upwardly facing valve seat to elevate the resilient conduit means from the upwardly facingvalve seat.

.12, Ina container filling machine, a `filler valve comprising a body portion having a liquid passage therethrough, a valve seat formed in said body portion, a vacuum passage opening from said valve seat and adapted to be `connected to a source of vacuuma vent opening in said seat, a movable valve member seated on said seat and having a passage therein adapted alternately to communicate with said vacuum passage and with said vent, a iixed valve having a head portion thereof mounted beneath the outlet from said liquid passage, resilient sealing means mounted to surround the outlet from said liquid passage and adapted to seat on said valve head, means for vmoving a container to bring its mouth into sealed relation with said resilient sealing means, means for actuating said movable valve to communicate Ythe interior of a container having its mouth so sealed with said vacuum passage, means for moving the container against the resilient seal to displace said seal from said valve head to admit liquid to ,fill-the container and to elevate a quantity of `such liquid above the container into the vpassage of Vsaid movable valve member, means for lowering the container to seat the resilient sealing mea-ns Y on :the 'valve head, and ymeans for actuating the movable valve Vto vent the valve passage, thereby Ato release into the container liquid elevated above the container.

13. `In a container filling machine, a vacuum llervalve comprising a valve body, va liquid pas- `sage therethrough, an insert adapted to be fixed in either of two aneularly adjusted positions said valve body, a valve seatV on said insert, said insert having a vent port therein opening into said valve seat, a vacuum connected passage in said valve body, a pair of vacuum passages in said valve insert adapted to communicate selectively between said body Vacuum passage and said valve seat, a valve member seated on said insert valve seat and having ports therein adapted to register selectively with said vacuum passages in said in. sert and with said vent port in said insert in predetermined positions of said valve member, a fixed valve mountedv in said insert to extend downwardly through the outlet of said liquid discharge paSlSage in said body, a relatively large head on said fixed valve, resilient sealing means interposed between said valve bodyand said valve head normally to seal off the flow of liquid from `said liquid passage, said resilient sealing meansbeing adapted to have sealing engagement with the mouth of a container elevated into engagement therewith, said valve head ybeing adapted to eX- tendinto the container to displace a volume of liquid therein, the portion of said sealing means engaging said valveA head being adjustable relatively to said container sealing means to vary the amount of liquid displaced by said valve headl 14. In a container filling machine a filler valve body, a liquid passage therethrough, a valveradjustably carried by said valve body and having a head portion thereof Amounted adjacent the outlet of said liquid discharge passage in said body, first sealing means adjustably carried by said valve body and interposed between said'ller valve body and Said valve head normally to seal off the flow of liquid through said liquid passage, ,second sealing means carried by said valve body and adapted to have sealing engagement with the mouth of a container elevated into engagement therewith, said valve head being adapted to extend into a container so sealed to displace a volume of liquid therein, the coordinated adjustment of said valve and said rst sealing means relative to said valve'body being effective to vary theA amount of liquid displaced by said valve head. 15. In a container filling machine a vented liquid supply tank, a sealed cover compartment adapted to be mounted over said liquid supply tank, a Yvacuum passage connected `from a source of vacuum into said cover compartment to vacuumize said compartment, a standpipe mounted in said tank and terminating short Yof said cover beneath a correspondingly arranged opening in said cover compartment, a resilient sleeve mounted on said standpipe to be pressed into sealing engagement with the cover in a manner encircling said cover opening to provide sealed communication between said standpipe and the interior of said cover compartment, and ller valve means mounted to communicate the standpipe and the interior of said tank to a container to be filled. Y K

16. -In a `container iilling machine, a ller -valve body having an opening therethrough dening a liquid passage, said opening being internally threaded adjacent one end thereof, Va rst sealing member mounted on said valve body and Yadapted to l,having .sealing engagement `with the mouth 0f a ycontainer elevated into engagement therewith, an externally Athreaded retainer ring in screwed engagement with the internally threaded portion of the opening in said bodya second sealing member carried by said retainer, a valve disposed in said liquid passage land mounted yfor threaded adjustmentiongtudinallv of said valve body, said valve having a seating portion adapted to engage said second sealing member to seal off the flow of liquid from the valve body, and means connecting said retainer ring and said valve for simultaneous adjustment relative to said valve body While permitting relative longitudinal movement between said retainer and said valve.

17. In a container filling machine for selective use as a balanced or as an unbalanced system, a liquid supply tank having an opening providing a vent to atmosphere, a source of vacuum, a filler valve mounted below said supply tank and in ow communication therewith, means for supporting a container in sealed engagement with said valve to receive liquid therefrom when said valve is in open position, a conduit communicating the interior of said container with said source of vacuum, and means for converting said machine for use as a balanced system including seal means for closing said vent opening and means for connecting said tank to said source of vacuum.

18. In a container lling machine for selective use as a balanced or as an unbalanced system, a liquid supply tank having an opening providing a vent to atmosphere, a source of vacuum, a ller valve mounted below said supply tank and in flow communication therewith, means for supporting a container in sealed engagement with said, valve to receive liquid therefrom when said valve is in open position, a conduit extending through said tank and communicating the interior of said container with said source of vacuum, and means for converting said machine for use as a balanced system including a removable plug for closing said vent opening and means for disconnecting said conduit from said source of vacuum at a point inside said tank whereby to communicate said tank with said source of vacuum. l

WILLIAM pE BACK.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,355,016 Thompson Oct. 5, 1920 1,877,927 McGhee Sept. 20, 1932 2,364,400 Stewart et al. Oct. 5, 1944 2,436,812 Kerr Mar. 2, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 613,282 Germany May 16, 1935 

